Uttar Pradesh industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi conducted a review of the ambitious defence corridor and Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) projects in Jhansi on Sunday. He directed officials to expedite land acquisition and infrastructure development to ensure timely completion of the initiatives.
Review Meeting and Site Inspection
After chairing a high-level review meeting of BIDA projects, the minister inspected the General Bipin Rawat Defence Industrial Corridor Jhansi Node being developed in Garotha tehsil near Erich. Additional chief secretary for infrastructure and industrial development, Alok Kumar, accompanied him during the inspection.
Progress on Defence Corridor
Officials informed the minister that projects worth approximately Rs 360 crore for internal roads, drainage systems, and boundary walls are progressing at the defence corridor site. The minister inspected the work and instructed agencies to maintain quality standards while speeding up execution.
Bharat Dynamics Limited Facility
The minister reviewed construction activities by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), which is developing a defence manufacturing facility at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore over nearly 450 acres. BDL officials stated that 28 buildings, including administrative blocks, guest houses, canteens, substations, storage facilities, and production units, are under construction, with most structural work completed.
According to officials, the Jhansi node will host several major defence manufacturing units, including facilities for anti-tank missiles, composite explosives, and missile propulsion systems. Missile components manufactured at the facility will be sent to Hyderabad for final assembly. Officials also claimed that the Jhansi defence corridor will host the world's largest explosive manufacturing unit.
BIDA Land Acquisition and Infrastructure
During the BIDA review meeting, officials reported that more than 25,700 acres of land had been acquired across several villages, while the remaining acquisition process would be expedited after rate determination. Discussions were held on the proposed 30 MLD water supply project, 132 KV transmission line, and other infrastructure works linked to the industrial region.
CEO BIDA Sanjay Khatri and divisional commissioner Bimal Kumar Dubey provided a detailed briefing on recent developments in BIDA.
Minister's Directives
The minister directed officials to complete pending land acquisition and infrastructure projects within stipulated timelines. He emphasised skill development programmes for local youth and farmers so they could benefit from employment and self-employment opportunities generated by upcoming industrial investments in Bundelkhand.
